Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 34 mm, 26.48 g, 12 h), Rome, 140-144. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. TIBERIS / S C The river-god Tiber reclining left on urn from which water flows, placing his right hand on ship and holding reed in his left. BMC 1313. Cohen 819. RIC 642a. Boldly struck and unusually well preserved for this popular issue. Minor smoothing and with very light pitting and a tiny flan crack, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Antoninus Pius' reign saw the 900th anniversary of Rome's founding in 148. While there is some debate about how the event was celebrated, it is clear that Pius' coinage contains numerous references to Rome's mythical past around this time (see also lot 268 below). The reverse of this particular piece shows Tiberinus, the personification of the great river flowing through Rome. While the importance of the Tiber to Rome's prosperity is obvious, it was also entwined with the city's foundation myth as the river carried the infants Romulus and Remus to safety after their granduncle, Amulius, had ordered their deaths. Likewise, the river protected their mother, Rhea Silvia, by marrying her and raising her to the status of a goddess.